of
a peculiar sympathy between the master's mind and his subject. To
this sympathy may be ascribed the prominence and size given them,
both prophets and sibyls, as compared to their usual relation to
the subjects they environ. They sit here on twelve throne-like
niches, more like presiding deities, each wrapt in
self-contemplation, than as tributary witnesses to the truth and
omnipotence of Him they are intended to announce. Thus they form
a gigantic frame-work round the subjects of the Creation, of
which the birth of Eve, as the type of the Nativity, is the
intentional centre. For some reason, the twelve figures are not
prophets and sibyls alternately--there being only five sibyls to
seven prophets,--so that the prophets come together at one angle.
Books and scrolls are given indiscriminately to them.

'The Sibylla Persica, supposed to be the oldest of the sisterhood, holds
the book close to her eyes, as if from dimness of sight, which fact,
contradicted as it is by a frame of obviously Herculean strength, gives
a mysterious intentness to the action.

'The Sibylla Libyca, of equally powerful proportions, but less closely
draped, is grandly wringing herself to lift a massive volume from a
height above her head on to her knees.

'The Sibylla Cumana, also aged, and with her head covered, is reading
with her volume at a distance from her eyes.

'The Sibylla Delphica, with waving hair escaping from her turban, is a
beautiful young being, the most human of all, gazing into vacancy or
futurity. She holds a scroll.

'The Sibylla Erythraea, grand, bare-headed creature, sits reading
intently with crossed legs, about to turn over her book.

'The prophets are equally grand in structure, and though, as we have
said, not more than men, yet they are the only men that could well bear
the juxtaposition with their stupendous female colleagues. Ezekiel,
between Erythraea and Persica, has a scroll in his hand that hangs by his
side, just cast down, as he turns eagerly to listen to some voice.

'Jeremiah, a magnificent figure, with elbow on knee and head on hand,
wrapt in meditation appropriate to one called to utter lamentation and
woe. He has neither book nor scroll.

'Jonah is also without either. His position is strained and ungraceful,
looking upwards, and apparently remonstrating with the Almighty upon the
destruction of the gourd, a few leaves of which are see